Star Flower Centre (SFC) opened in June 2009 to maximise educational opportunities for migrant children with disabilities living in and around Mae Sot. Before the Centre existed, these children were often isolated within migrant communities with no prospect of an education, while their parents struggled to care for them and earn a living at the same time.
Star Flower Centre (SFC) opened in June 2009 to maximise educational opportunities for migrant children with disabilities living in and around Mae Sot. Before the Centre existed, these children were often isolated within migrant communities with no prospect of an education, while their parents struggled to care for them and earn a living at the same time.
The Centre follows UNICEF's rights-based, child-friendly school framework — inclusive, healthy and protective for all children, effective with children, and involved with families and communities. Most of our students live with cerebral palsy; others have autism, ADHD, Down syndrome or learning difficulties. Today SFC is the only school along the Thai–Myanmar border available to children with specialist needs from migrant communities.
Established with Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) and World Education (WE) Thailand, the Centre has been managed and led by the Burmese Migrant Workers' Education Committee (BMWEC) since 2015. Our teachers, trained from scratch in special educational needs and child-friendly methods, hold Thai Ministry of Education teacher cards.
We believe that all children should have access to a child-friendly school, where their individual needs are catered for and where they are able to participate in a full program of activities and learning opportunities.
We believe all students should be encouraged to work, learn, and play together, which will enable students to gain confidence, raise their self-esteem, and realize their full potential as productive members of society.
To keep each child — and his or her rights, well-being and educational opportunities — at the centre of everything we do. In practice, that means we:
Each petal of our logo represents a principle that shapes every decision at the Centre. Together they form a circle of care around every child and their family.
Every child follows an Individual Education Plan (IEP) within a broad, balanced, child-friendly curriculum — social, emotional, physical and cognitive — that works toward inclusion in mainstream education.
Nutritious meals, vitamins, showers, health checks and vaccinations with SMRU, and staff trained in child safeguarding. We promote positive discipline with parents as an alternative to corporal punishment.
Parents are a child's first and most important educators. Regular training days, home visits, open days and community workshops keep families at the centre of every decision.
Equal-opportunity recruitment, a clear code of conduct, and continuous coaching, mentoring and appraisal so that our teachers keep growing alongside the children they serve.
Education is at the heart of the Centre, but we also look after the whole child — their health, nutrition and happiness — and the families who care for them.
Each child has an IEP developed with teachers, the staff trainer, parents and specialists, delivered through one-to-one Work-with-Teacher sessions every morning.
Art, music, role play and topic sessions such as “Will it Float or Sink?” — followed by outdoor play with sand, swings, football and badminton.
A mid-morning snack and nutritious lunch, daily vitamins, showers and clean clothes, health checks, vaccination programmes and clinic referrals when needed.
Our community liaison identifies children in migrant communities. Teachers visit homes to show families how to support development through exercises, play and simple adaptations.
Community elders told us that before the Centre opened, the children used to wander the community and come home dirty. Now they play constructively with the other children, sing songs, count, and chant the alphabet.
With their children safe, fed and learning at the Centre, both parents are able to work and support the family. Parents' training days, picnics and concerts have raised the self-esteem of parents and children alike — our students are now considered “special” in the very best sense.
Families join in throughout the year — a Songkran water fight, Hat Making days, concerts and picnics. Alongside the fun, parents learn about health and hygiene, behaviour management, and how to play with their children at home.
Every baht funds teaching, learning materials, warm meals and home visits. Scan a PromptPay QR in seconds, give internationally by card, or buy a handmade craft from our students.